They are just good as howlers. That's all, you know.
When it comes to water, we are also accustomed to talking about leaks. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry has need for more than a plumber to fix its many leaks of valuable budgetary rands. In a report tabled by the Auditor-General in August 2008, it was reported that a chief industrial technician at the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry had approved a payment of R171 000 to a company owned by a spouse. Tax invoices from the company to the department were made out for the attention of "the chief industrial technician". How very convenient and comradely! The question we would like to ask is: What happened to the technician? Was he fired or promoted?
Another recurring problem within the department is the finalisation of the fixed assets register. The Minister is constitutionally duty-bound to inform Parliament of the progress made in finalising the assets register. This is a matter that goes back many years. The department holds that it has R2,2 billion worth of property, plant and equipment but no register exists to prove this.
However, what should concern all of us is the failure of the department to record even recent acquisitions. Machinery and equipment recently acquired for about R44 million has not been substantiated in the fixed assets register. How does one explain this? Is this now fixed? [Interjections.] Could the Minister assure the House that such a problem with current assets will never occur again under her stewardship?
On a related matter, could we also have a categorical assurance from the Minister that all invoices relating to services received before year-end have all been included in the current financial statement?
Going by the history of the department, one is interested to ask whether transfers in terms of the Division of Revenue Act, Act 2 of 2006, to municipalities were effected on time, and whether these were made strictly in accordance with schedule 7 of the Division of Revenue Act in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, PFMA. The department is required to obtain assurances ... [Interjections.] I have brains to think, sir.
The department is required to obtain assurances from the municipalities to which advances are being made to prove that they have had effective, efficient and transparent financial management and internal control systems, as required by section 38(1)(J) of the PFMA. You don't know that. [Interjections.] Is the department adhering strictly to those requirements? We need a categorical assurance from the Minister.
It is about time the hon Minister began to take a firm grip of her department, so that she can ensure that policies and procedures exist to facilitate effective monitoring, evaluation and corrective action. The department cannot continue to operate in contravention of Treasury Regulations or that of the PFMA. What she has to do has already been itemised in the main by the portfolio committee in its report.
The following are the items listed for the Minister to tackle: review and align policy systems and procedures; review and improve document management systems immediately; strengthen management oversight in respect of record management; initiate frequent random audits within the department; clean up and update Persal immediately and ensure alignment of the Basic Administration System and Persal systems; fill all critical posts with qualified professionals who can do the job; implement pay point separation between the water trading entity and main accounts; implement a coaching programme for all senior managers in the corporate service branch; address challenges of organisational culture through change management interventions; deal quickly and decisively with Eskom's overusage of water for power generation; deal decisively and ruthlessly with the lack of infrastructure management by provincial and local government; closely monitor the national water crisis; strengthen performance management and deal firmly with inadequate performance; and table the Water Services Strategy report with the portfolio committee without delay.
Once again, in the 2008-09 Auditor-General's report - the latest one - the internal audit functions within the department did not substantially fulfil their responsibility. How can Parliament approve funds for such a department?
The latest report of the Auditor-General also shows that of four Scopa resolutions that were submitted to the department for attention, not one has been implemented. Understandably, the matter of the assets register is complex but every year should see progress.
Parliament should only approve a quarter of the requested budget. Thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]